If I didn’t know better, I would have thought this  vintage looking bracelet had come from a local antique shop. The stacks of buttons gathered between old wooded thread spools have such an by-gone air.

Shaylene felt inspired at her daughter’s birthday party surrounded by the whirl of creating, she wanted to join the fun. Searching the bins of recycled goodies led her to wearable art! I think she’s onto something good!

Spool Bracelet

Shaylene, Mom

This is one of those creations inspired by a magazine tear sheet in the Idea Book at CReATE. Lakyn knew when she saw this idea that she wanted to make it her own. It took patience and persistence  but the payoff is quite fabulous don’t you think?

Paper Scroll Wreath

Lakyn, 12yrs

Seeing in the unassuming.

I love the way new possibilities unfold at CReATE. New ideas are sparked all the time so it’s no wonder that a little  pinecone could look like the body of a bird to Annie. If the pinecone were a bird then of course flower petals could be it’s wings. A little roll to a piece of paper and there is a beak too! What a sweet little bird.

“Birdie”

Annie

11 yrs

We use them every day, why not add a little flair!

Here Samantha added floral tape to her pens to jazz them up along with crinkled shred as a topper to make them really stand out! She liked her pens so much she created a fabulous tin can holder to keep them all together when not in use. Now she will write out her school assignments in style!

Jazzy Pens

Samantha, 9 yrs

Like all creations on the wall of wow at the studio or at home for display on your mantle , CReATE started as an idea. 

Today it is a place that warms my heart as I hear and see a continuous stream of oohs, ahhs and giggles of proud delight in the process of each creators fostering  of their own ideas. That is true joy.

CReATE wishes you all a happy, healthy year filled with wonder and possibility with family and friends.

Happy New Year!

I hear adults say all the time “I’m not creative”, but what does that mean? The ability to call a new idea to action in the flash of an eye?

I see creativity everywhere, in everyone. Look at this little tree, no taller than my hand- completely made of twist ties! Maybe that is what creativity can be, seeing possibility. We are only a thought away from that.

This little tree can remind us all as adults raising families, creating futures and doing daily chores that we all have a spark within us. Maybe we will look at twist ties in a new way the next time we fill our bag of apples. Possibility…

The Little Tree

Kristen, Adult

Who doesn’t love a wintery snowman? Especially in sunny California.

This weeks workshop had snowmen abounding, creating chilly smiles all around. Creating one is such a simple pleasure, with a new white sock, a bit of material, a few buttons, a lid for balance, some dried beans to weight them in place and you are all set. Olivia made hers for some special teachers in her life.

They are sure to be loved.

Musical Snowmen

Olivia, 10yrs

It’s the everyday that often make the extraordinary stand out. taking something as plain as a coffee filter and converting it to a delicate butterflies wings is exactly that!

Many families joined us in creating butterflies for the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Texas durning the month of November and create they did using coffee filters, tape, cardboard tubes, goggly eyes, plastic containers and of course, glitter!

Creating these simple creatures reminds us of the remarkable human spirit the blossoms within each of us.

This week those beautiful creatures will make their way to Houston to join with thousands of other hand made butterflies as part of a grande display called the Butterfly Project to honor the children who perished during the Holocaust. 

To learn more visit http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml

Now that the holiday season is moving into full swing, the flurry of creativity and tradition are bringing a little extra joy to the studio.

Here Sophie and her Mom decided to create a Hanukkah decoration with an interactive pocket for treats, tiny gifts or notes to add something fun and new to their holiday traditions. Maybe each year they would make a new dreidel to add to the collection to create a banner of pretty memories. The possibilities are endless.

Personalized Pocket Deidels

 Sophie and Mom

Have you ever had one inspired thought that lead you to another? It is not uncommon when you get caught up in the moment and your surroundings. Working with a mound of clay which quicky became a skateboard ramp Jack had that chain reaction of inspiration, a ramp needs a board!

In his imagination there must be scale, a small ramp needs a small board but what?…

After settling on a small piece of cardboard he chose beads for wheels! Finding silver beads made this little tech deck look like a high end board, perfect for all the tricks he could think to do.

 I have a feeling that hours of fun lay ahead.

Skateboard

Jack, 8yrs